Case's Vacation Journal: So Many Happenings, So Little Time

Your writer wanted to get away, and he did. Regardless of how things were going to go, the chips fell where they did. I'm just glad for some time off. Now, I'll get to the positive things first.

And it's been one hell of a week!

Here are some of the events I did experience: In Tulsa, Oklahoma, you always run into some good food, and this time around didn't disappoint one iota. Had some great chicken-fried steak and other things at the revered Nelson's Buffeteria. Other places I stopped by for vittles were El Rancho Grande, White River Fish Market, Rib Crib, Charlie's Chicken, Lefty's on Greenwood, and The Spudder. For sights, I got to drop in and explore Tulsa's new riverside park, The Gathering Place. Who could resist a kiddie slide in the shape of a banana?? They have a lot of lush greenery all around the park, with walking trails, innovative kids play areas, and indoor facilities where folks can pause and relax.

In events around the world during the week, there were two really good playoff baseball games in Houston which I got to listen to. And one of those was a game in which the Astros never led, but they chipped away and finished it off with one of the more memorable walk-off home runs in the team's history when Yordan Alvarez turned the Minute Maid faithful into a frenzy. Absolutely epic! Elsewhere, Tulsi Gabbard announced she is leaving the Democrat Party. Good. About damn time! Others will continue to follow as people across America are coming to their senses. And Oklahoma got a brief reprieve from their severe drought when Green Country got a little bit of much needed rain on Monday and Tuesday. Now, that did not actually put much of a damper on my trip, but the area needed it.

And, now, a little of the not-so-great.

We lost the legendary Angela Lansbury earlier in the week. Great actress and great overall contributor to what has become a dying medium, but she honed her craft very well. 96 years young. She will be missed. In addition, your writer had come down with a slight head cold in the middle of the trip, and, no, it's not severe enough to be COVID, but it did force a few changes to the itinerary. Had to cancel one museum visit and a get-together with a former co-worker in nearby Broken Arrow. It's the first time that The Case had gotten sick in some six or seven years (save for a dust reaction three years ago), and the only person I could have gotten it from (if that) was a lady I visited with at church this past Sunday. I didn't even sit next to her, but she was going to teach the class that morning despite having a cold due to a change in the weather. Honestly, she really should have just stayed home.

I've made it back to the Case abode safely and without incident. Just have to nurse this head cold away, but I've got plenty of sources to stave everything off and keep things from getting worse. And I've had worse.

Overall, it was a good trip up to Tulsa. While no trip or excursion will ever be perfect, I've needed the time off more than anything. I'll be back in my own bed, so now it's time to rest.